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Post by larataylor on Sept 11, 2014 0:51:07 GMT -5
I'm wondering how many people here are maintaining or shooting for minimalism, and what that means to you.
I love things. I love to go into a house full of beautiful, clean, well arranged things. But I don't want my own house like that because I don't want to do the work. I want my house very clean, but I want the cleaning to be fast and easy.
I feel that I've been traumatized by clutter and squalor, and extra stuff makes me anxious about slipping back.
Further, maintenance bores me to tears. Tackling big jobs, making a big difference, and coming from behind--that kind of thing can really get me going. But cleaning a clean house day after day gets boring really fast.
So minimalism seems like the answer for me. I'm thinking about how I can decorate and make it beautiful without adding things. By painting, for instance. My daughter painted a beautiful mural on one wall.
I would love others' thoughts and ideas.
Lara
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Post by papermoon on Sept 11, 2014 1:06:33 GMT -5
Right now I'm more of a midimalist. But I am very strongly influenced by regularly reading minimalist blogs. They've helped me declutter and pare waaaay down from my former maximalist life. Favorites minimalist blogs are: Zen Habits Be More With Less Small Notebook Zero Waste Home Slow Your Home Becoming Minimalist Rowdy Kittens Miss Minimalist
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Post by flotsam on Sept 11, 2014 1:31:03 GMT -5
I want to lead a simple life, not a minimal one. And by simple I don't mean going back to the times before washing machines, but sort of a streamlined life.
For example: I don't have enough underwear/towels and the like for one week (as far as I get it this would be the minimalist's approach), but for two weeks and two days more. Sometimes it would be very inconvenient for me as a single to do loads of darks and whites every week, so I want to be able to get away with two weeks not doing a load. Having more than the minimum makes my life easier.
More often "simple" means paring down, though.
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Post by aquamarine on Sept 11, 2014 1:50:39 GMT -5
Minimal and simple without any deprivation or false economy is what I aim for. I have 4-5 sets of bedlinen and pajamas for example: they last longer this way and I have something in reserve. They all fit in a big plastic chest. I have a lot more clothes ready to wear after paring down my hoard as I can see what I have and vary them. There is nothing wrong with having a few beautiful ornaments and rugs.
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Post by lucie on Sept 11, 2014 5:43:01 GMT -5
I aim for minimalism the same way flotsam does. Only I have these thing for nearly 4 weeks as this number works for me best. This way I can do full loads of laundry (light or darks) and still have enough. Also I do not have a tumble drier, I hang clothes to dry on a rack and it can take two or three days to dry properly, so I have to take that in account too. I do not have too many clothes, but definitely more than 33 or such - having only two or three tops would be sooooo boring, you would have to wear the same clothes all the time. I simply try to use most of the things I own - that is a minimalism for me. I think what you aim for is a clean unclattered house - cleaning and maintaining is so much easier when you do not have to move things in order to clean. As for the maintenance, I work full time and do not spend much time at home during the week, so I just make my bed every day, Erase the Evidence every day (look into the BDG method in favorite threads) and clean once a weeks(dust, hoover)
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2014 7:26:34 GMT -5
I dream about a minimalist life. I love lookig at minimalist decor and such. But truthfully, I don't think that it would really work for me. I like stuff too much.
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Post by turkeyhill on Sept 11, 2014 7:47:04 GMT -5
I think anything that inspires people to get rid of stuff is Wonderful!!!! Apart from anti-hoarding declutter I think my goal is more "be realistic to what I might use within in a year" than minimalism. With some things I would use them within a year but they take up a lot of storage space when not-in-use and they are very cheap at the thrift store. I got rid of them intending to buy again like those knit blankets to layer in winter and holiday decorations. I did a routine declutter of a box of needlework tools the other day. I ordered a pair of 19 size needles to go with an interchangeable knitting needle kit. I love that kit and I love using 19s but these are heavy and I know I won't use them. I tossed the really small sized crochet hooks because I don't expect to use them any time soon. If take on making pineapple dollies I'll have to buy one but I doubt that will be in the near future. I have three size J hooks but no projects that need a J right now. I decided to keep them because I may want them soon and I've BTDT going to two different craft stores and not find the hook size hook I wanted to buy and I hate dealing with haggling for a coupon to buy a $2 crochet hook for $1.20. They fit in my needlework tools box and there is no real estate crisis on top of my bookcase thanks my SOOS family helping me getting rid of other things. I think a minimalist would have gotten rid of the J hooks too.
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Post by turkeyhill on Sept 11, 2014 7:59:23 GMT -5
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Post by larataylor on Sept 11, 2014 8:44:16 GMT -5
Thanks for the answers, all of you. I don't want to live by arbitrary numbers or take on a new "religion." I want to make things as simple and easy as possible. That's kinda the vibe I'm getting from all of you, too ... not necessarily the *smallest* number of things, but the *perfect* number of things to make life run smoothly.
I've been living with way too much stuff, but also deprived of things that could make life better & easier. In many ways, life would be simpler if I could buy things--for instance, king-size sheets for the couches so I wouldn't have to use two smaller sheets--or even slipcovers so I wouldn't have to fuss with the placement so much. Right now I can't buy *anything* --there is too often not enough for bills and food. I'm loath to part with some of my extra things because I really *cannot* replace things that break.
So my minimalism is partly driven by the need to get out of the house and earn more money. Will I have the energy to work and keep the house clean, too? And how much will DH mess it up when I'm not there?
It's also driven by the problem of four cats and allergic relatives. Easy, fast, frequent dusting and vacuuming is a must. And for this to be doable, I need minimal furniture and clear surfaces. But I don't mind if my glass-front cabinet and bookcase are fairly stuffed with ALL my knick-knacks … they're contained in a limited space, and don't get dusty or broken.
I read in some cat-book: "A house with a cat needs no further decoration." Cats seem to agree, evidenced by their mania for knocking knick-knacks onto the floor.
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Post by papermoon on Sept 11, 2014 9:10:54 GMT -5
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Post by dtesposito on Sept 11, 2014 9:28:08 GMT -5
From what I've read, minimalist bloggers have either no pets or only one
A-ha! I knew there was a reason I didn't like the idea of minimalism!!
Actually, I think this is great: not necessarily the *smallest* number of things, but the *perfect* number of things to make life run smoothly.
The perfect number and types of things will be different for each of us.
Diane
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Post by OnTheMend on Sept 11, 2014 9:33:18 GMT -5
Except that there is no such thing as perfection
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Post by lucie on Sept 11, 2014 9:43:59 GMT -5
Thanks for the answers, all of you. I don't want to live by arbitrary numbers or take on a new "religion." I want to make things as simple and easy as possible. That's kinda the vibe I'm getting from all of you, too ... not necessarily the *smallest* number of things, but the *perfect* number of things to make life run smoothly. Yes, that is it. Use whatever number works for you. To have just enough, not too much or not too few. And even if you aim for minimalism in furniture, you will still need enough storage for the things you need. Glass front cupboard do the trick, I like them too.
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Post by dtesposito on Sept 11, 2014 9:49:23 GMT -5
Except that there is no such thing as perfectionWell, you're right about that. I do know that there's a huge range of options between having a hoarded house and having a minimalist house. Somewhere in there is the level at which I will: like the way my place looks, have enough of everything to be functional but be making use of everything I have, have enough of the things that I enjoy being around to make me happy, and not have so many things that it makes cleaning hard. Now, I just need to get to that level! Diane
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Post by larataylor on Sept 11, 2014 9:50:15 GMT -5
Minimize what you don't love so there is room for what you do love. I don't love dirt. I don't love housework. I do love my cats. I do love space. I do love cooking, and crafting, and writing, and having people in my house. And I do love having some pretty things.
Life is no fun if you minimize *everything.*
Being frugal with money means carefully spending on what you value most, and minimizing other spending. Same with space. Same with time. Same with keeping stuff.
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